Lactoferrin and Its Potential Impact for the Relief of Pain: A Preclinical Approach

Godínez‐Chaparro, Beatriz; Guzmán-Mejía, Fabiola; Drago-Serrano, María Elisa

doi:10.3390/ph14090868

Cited by 7 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 95 publications

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“…In these cases, without any doubt, the prebiotic action of LF on the gastrointestinal tract microbiota plays a key role, which, consequently, improves the immunity of all mucous membranes [ 2 ]. Other, advantageous properties of the protein are also worth mentioning, such as the regulation of iron metabolism (including in pregnant women), protection of the gastrointestinal tract mucosa integrity, normalization of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, promotion of bone formation and wound healing, as well as anticancer, analgesic, anti-stress and hypotension actions [ 7 , 23 , 140 , 141 , 142 , 143 , 144 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antimicrobial and Prebiotic Activity of Lactoferrin in the Female Reproductive Tract: A Comprehensive Review

Artym

Zimecki

2021

Biomedicines

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Women’s intimate health depends on several factors, such as age, diet, coexisting metabolic disorders, hormonal equilibrium, sexual activity, drug intake, contraception, surgery, and personal hygiene. These factors may affect the homeostasis of the internal environment of the genital tract: the vulva, vagina and cervix. This equilibrium is dependent on strict and complex mutual interactions between epithelial cells, immunocompetent cells and microorganisms residing in this environment. The microbiota of the genital tract in healthy women is dominated by several species of symbiotic bacteria of the Lactobacillus genus. The bacteria inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganisms and inflammatory processes by virtue of direct and multidirectional antimicrobial action and, indirectly, by the modulation of immune system activity. For the homeostasis of the genital tract ecosystem, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory peptides, as well as proteins secreted by mucus cells into the cervicovaginal fluid, have a fundamental significance. Of these, a multifunctional protein known as lactoferrin (LF) is one of the most important since it bridges innate and acquired immunity. Among its numerous properties, particular attention should be paid to prebiotic activity, i.e., exerting a beneficial action on symbiotic microbiota of the gastrointestinal and genital tract. Such activity of LF is associated with the inhibition of bacterial and fungal infections in the genital tract and their consequences, such as endometritis, pelvic inflammation, urinary tract infections, miscarriage, premature delivery, and infection of the fetus and newborns. The aim of this article is to review the results of laboratory as well as clinical trials, confirming the prebiotic action of LF on the microbiota of the lower genital tract.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antimicrobial and Prebiotic Activity of Lactoferrin in the Female Reproductive Tract: A Comprehensive Review

Artym

Zimecki

2021

Biomedicines

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“…The gene LCN2 is involved in regulating both neuroinflammation and subsequent chronic inflammatory pain and is thought to contribute to pain hypersensitivity (Jha et al, 2015). In other studies of patients with osteoarthritis, the gene LTF may exhibit analgesic properties by reducing activation of neuronal inflammatory signaling pathways (Godínez-Chaparro et al, 2021). Lastly, studies of the gene CTSG have reported a mediating role of chronic inflammatory pain in patients with herniated discs (Shao et al, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential Gene Expression Among Patients With Heart Failure Experiencing Pain

et al. 2023

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BackgroundChronic pain is frequently experienced by patients with heart failure (HF) and is associated with higher mortality, higher symptom burden, and worsened health-related quality of life. However, the genomic mechanisms underlying chronic pain in HF are understudied. Building an understanding of the mechanistic underpinnings of pain may inform novel interventions.ObjectiveThe objective was to identify genes associated with pain from messenger RNA sequence data collected from patients with HF with and without pain.MethodsThe current study analyzed data from 40 patients with HF previously enrolled in a clinical trial. Pain presence was measured using the Health Utilities Index Mark-3. Genes were tested for differential expression using DESeq2, and differentially expressed genes were analyzed for protein–protein interaction (PPI) and relevant ontological pathways using Metascape. Genes located within the core of the PPI network were considered key in disease-relevant biological pathways. Differentially expressed genes within this PPI network were reviewed in existing literature to narrow down candidate genes of interest. These target genes of interest were reanalyzed in a second sample of 24 patients with HF using validation quantitative polymerase chain reaction.ResultsA total of 334 genes (279 upregulated, 55 downregulated) were differentially expressed between patients with and without pain in the primary sample of 40. These genes were largely aligned with neutrophil degranulation pathways. Seven genes of interest were identified from a core network of 15 co-expressed genes in the PPI network and existing literature. Three of these seven genes, matrix metallopeptidase 8 (MMP8), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), and neutrophil defensin 3 (DEFA3), were upregulated in patients with pain versus without pain in both the primary and validation samples. All seven genes of interest are involved in immune, inflammatory, and atherosclerotic processes.DiscussionThese results identify potential genes that may play a mechanistic role in chronic pain in HF. Further research is needed to evaluate these potential genes among clearly delineated pain phenotypes.

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“…Many reports exist on the effectiveness of pharmacological interventions in neuropathic pain treatment; however, only a few studies have reported exercise intervention effectiveness, and the pain reduction mechanism remains unclear [ 11 , 12 ]. Opioid therapy for neuropathic pain is usually discouraged due to concerns about its ineffectiveness, the potential for tolerance, the risk of addiction, and several side effects.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Pain Relief Through Minimal Exercise Intervention in a Rat Model of Neuropathic Pain

Sumizono,

Yoshizato,

Imai

et al. 2024

Cureus

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We aimed to minimize the frequency of exercise intervention and test the efficacy of pain relief. We also investigated the mechanism of neuropathic pain to determine the best frequency of pain relief for neuropathic pain. The chronic constriction injury (CCI) rat model was randomly divided into three groups: exercise (Ex), No-Ex, and normal. The treadmill exercise intervention was administered, and the 50% withdrawal threshold was assessed using the Von Frey Test. Ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (IBA1), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), C-C chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR2), and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) activation was determined through immunohistochemistry. In the brain, we examined the increased expression of β-endorphin/met-enkephalin in the gray matter of the midbrain aqueduct. Co-expression of CCR2, IBA1, and Neu-N was observed in the spinal cord dorsal horn by immunofluorescence staining. The 50% pain response threshold was significantly lower in the Ex group than in the No-Ex group at five weeks post-CCI, indicating a high analgesic effect. In the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, IBA1 and GFAP were significantly decreased in the Ex group than in the No-Ex group at five weeks post-CCI. However, no significant difference in activation of BDNF, CCR2, and TRAF6 was observed. In the midbrain, the Ex group showed a significant increase compared to the No-Ex group. In summary, our results suggest that in minimal-exercise intervention, neuropathic pain relief is achieved by activation of the descending pain inhibitory system in the midbrain.

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Lactoferrin and Its Potential Impact for the Relief of Pain: A Preclinical Approach

Cited by 7 publications

References 95 publications

Antimicrobial and Prebiotic Activity of Lactoferrin in the Female Reproductive Tract: A Comprehensive Review

Antimicrobial and Prebiotic Activity of Lactoferrin in the Female Reproductive Tract: A Comprehensive Review

Differential Gene Expression Among Patients With Heart Failure Experiencing Pain

Effects of Pain Relief Through Minimal Exercise Intervention in a Rat Model of Neuropathic Pain

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